Rachet wrench device



June 13, 1967 R. WILLIAMS 3,324,748

RACHET WRENCH DEVICE 7 Filed May 16, 1966 16 2e //0 2 t T FIG. 3 FIG. 4

IMVE'N TOR Dar/.440 1Q mum/4s FIG. 5 "/M fig/mi United States Patent 3,324,748 RACHET WRENCH DEVICE Donald R. Williams, 1108 Geiger Ave., Rockledge, Fla. 32955 Filed May 16, 1966, Ser. No. 550,271 2 Claims. (Cl. 81121) My invention relates to wrenches of a new and useful construction and is particularly directed to a box end wrench of a new design.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a simple one piece box end wrench which may be used without removal from the nut or bolt-head and which may be freed of its grip on the nut or bolthead by a simple upward rotation of the handle and then be reset in a new position in order to obtain a new grip on the nut being turned. With such an object in mind the invention is hereinafter set forth with reference to the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a cross-section taken along the axis of symmetry of the invention.

FIGURE 3 is a partially sectioned side view of the invention in its locked position on a nut.

FIGURE 4 is a partially sectioned side view of the invention in its raised or unlocked position.

FIGURE 5 is a partially sectioned side view of the wrench in inverted locking position.

Referring now to the drawing, there is shown a preferred form of my improved wrench in which the numeral indicates an elongated handle formed integral with an oval wrench head portion 12. Within the oval head portion 12 there is an aperture 14 the design and construction of which constitute the main features of my invention.

The numerals 16 designate sides of the twelve sided aperture 14 which converge at a point 17. Within the aperture 14 there is an annular ridge 18 axially located intermediate the top 20 and bottom 22 of the wrench head 12. The annular ridge 18 extends around the inner Wall of the aperture 14 approximately one-half of the circumferential distance around the aperture 14 opposite the handle 10.

In the lower part of the wrench aperture the twelve sided configuration is interrupted and becomes circular over area 21 described as that between the wrench bottom 22 up to the intersection with a plane 23 inclined approximately 25 degrees above the bottom 22 at 24.

In FIGURE 3 there is shown a threaded shaft 25 on which is threaded a hexagonal nut 26 having edges 27. With the wrench in the operative position as shown the edges 27 of the nut 26 are operatively engaged by the sides 16 at points 17.

In FIGURE 4 the wrench is shown rotated upward 3,324,748 Patented June 13, 1967 to its unlock position. In this position due to the annularly bored portion 21 the edges 27 of the nut 26 are no longer engaged and the wrench may be horizontally rotated independent of the nut. Since relative dimensions of shaft and nut width have an effect on the amount of upward rotation necessary to free the wrench from engagement with the nut the portion 23 may be shaped as shown to permit greater vertical inclination of the wrench handle.

The operation of the wrench may be described as follows: the wrench is placed in operative engagement with a nut as shown in FIGURE 3 and rotated in the desired direction through a convenient arc, the wrench is then inclined upwards as shown in FIGURE 4 and rotatably returned to its original position at which it is again lowered to a horizontal position and into new engagement with the nut. This procedure is then repeated until the nut is revolved the desired amount.

Where it is of no importance that the above described ratchet action be available the wrench may be inverted and placed in engagement with a nut 26 as shown in FIGURE 5.

While I have described what at present is considered a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from my invention and it is therefore aimed in the appended clairns to cover all such changes as fall Within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A wrench having a cylindrical head portion with an elongated handle portion afiixed thereto, said cylindrical head portion axially terminating in an upper end and a lower end, said cylindrical portion having an inner annulus substantially polygonal in section and extending from said upper end axially to the intersection with a plane which obliquely intersects the axis of said cylindrical portion, said inner annulus being substantially circular in section between said lower end and the intersection of said plane.

2. The wrench of claim 1 wherein an arcuate flange is afiixed to said inner annulus intermediate said upper and lower ends.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,936,352 11/1933 Dixon 81119 2,597,707 5/1952 Craig.

2,848,916 8/1958 Reynolds 81l21 3,121,356 2/1964 Davis 81-119 WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

MILTON S. MEI-IR, Examiner. 

1. A WRENCH HAVING A CYLINDRICAL HEAD PORTION WITH AN ELONGATED HANDLE PORTION AFFIXED THERETO, SAID CYLINDRICAL HEAD PORTION AXIALLY TERMINATING IN AN UPPER END AND A LOWER END, SAID CYLINDRICAL PORTION HAVING AN INNER ANNULUS SUBSTANTIALLY POLYGONAL IN SECTION AND EXTENDING FROM SAID UPPER END AXIALLY TO THE INTERSECTION WITH A PLANE WHICH OBLIQUELY INTERSECTS THE AXIS OF SAID CYLINDRICAL PORTION, SAID INNER ANNULUS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY CIRCULAR IN SECTION BETWEEN SAID LOWER END AND THE INTERSECTION OF SAID PLANE. 